Should Totti be suspended? [R]

[Wowbagger]

This question popped up on a Danish board, after Totti spat Christian Poulsen in the face during the Italy - Denmark game, pictures of the episode here: http://www.dr.dk/sporten/em2004/article.jhtml?articleID=177789

Personally I don't think he should - The ref didn't see it on the pitch, and I don't think video viewing should decide football matches. Also, if he is suspended, it would only help Denmarks opponents, which wouldn't be fair. Of course, there's also the matter of excluding one of the best players in the world - it would be a shame if he couldn't play, although he hasn't showed his potential, only his arrogance, in the first match, he is still very good, and I look forward to see him perform well later in the tourney.

On the other hand, what he did was wrong. He should be told that, so UEFA, fine him. Not just 500 Euros or some thing like that, at least 10000 Euros, otherwise it's just a joke.

[astabooty]

yes he deserves to be suspended and i hope he burns in hell!!!
anyway what a piece of sht. i didnt even know that happened, besides spitting he also had a tackle that would have been red if his name wasnt totti.

[Dante]

It happened after the game so a suspension would be stupid. A fine on the other hand is NO problem. Put the primadonna in his place.

[Wowbagger]

No, it happened during the game.
EDIT: After the game, a journalist (who presumably didn't know about the episode) asked Poulsen if he had ever played against such a good player, and if he asked him to exchange shirts after the game.
Poulsen responded calmly saying that Totti was one of the best, and that he didn't get a chance to ask for his shirt, since he stormed out as soon as the match was over.
It happened before the other episode, towards the end of the game, where Totti got a yellow.

[Dante]

Wasn't Poulsen substituted by that point?

Well if it happened during the game then it's a different story.

[Wowbagger]

Yes, he was subbed around the 75. minute, what I meant was that it happened a long time before the yellow card episode, as in, the two episodes were not related.
According to a bold.dk article, Cristian Poulsen has said that he was spat on not once, but several times, although only one episode seems to have been captured on camera. It's on the main page of the Gazzetta http://www.gazzetta.it/ , and it has just been announced that DBU (the danish FA) will complain about it.

[Valjean]

That guys doesnt know the word sportsmanship.
Because he cant slack his way to an easy victory he starts spitting on players and commits insane fouls.
I've lost a lot of respect for that guy.
And Im sure if he just gets a fine hell wipe his behind with it.
I dont care whether its in danish interest or not.
The guy should be banned for at least one match.
Or better yet...he should have his lips sown together.

[wjarrettc]

This question popped up on a Danish board, after Totti spat Christian Poulsen in the face during the Italy - Denmark game, pictures of the episode here: http://www.dr.dk/sporten/em2004/article.jhtml?articleID=177789

Personally I don't think he should - The ref didn't see it on the pitch, and I don't think video viewing should decide football matches.


Spitting is a red card offense and should be treated like any other red card offense. Since the ref didn't see it and didn't issue the card, then the precedent must be how has UEFA dealt with issues such as this in the past? Punches, elbows, tunnel brawls? I'm sure they have used video evidence in the past to suspend or fine a player. This should fall neatly into that category.

Personally, I think they should give him the same suspension that he would have gotten should he have been red carded during the game. To say that just because the ref missed it that he should get away with it only courages more players to disregard the laws of the game, if they are careful to do it when no one is looking. How does that fit into "Fair Play"?

BTW, kudos to Poulsen for not lashing out at Totti after the match. It's clear who is the more sporting player here.

[MarioKempes]

I would have banned Totti for 2 matches for his horrible tackle. Now, after seeing the spitting incident, I think I would ban him for 3 matches.

[kwik1980]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2004/italy/3812903.stm


Totti has been charged with "gross unsporting conduct" by UEFA. There will be a hearing tomorrow (Thursday), and Totti has until midnight tonight (Wednesday) to offer his defence.

For a comparison: Sinisa Mihajlovic of Lazio was sent off in a Champions League match against Chelsea. He went off, spitting and kicking at people, and was also charged with improper conduct toward an official. He got an 8 match suspension. If Totti is found guilty, I think that missing the last 2 first round matches is not out of the question.

[Wowbagger]

First off, yes, if the ref had seen it, Totti should have been shown at laest a yellow card, which would have meant that his second yellow would have resulted in a red, but that's speculation. However, that was a different matter. If the ref had seen it, the card would have had the effect that Poulsen saw that the spitting didn't go unpunished, and that he didn't need to take matters into his own hands, or anything like that. Fortunately Poulsen kept his cool, and just kept marking Totti quietly through the match.
Now, regarding video footage, spitting should be penalized, but it's not the same as a reckless tackle where the victim might lose the ability to play for months, or a brawl, with fistfights and such. It's very poor sportsmanship, but nothing more. A fine, and a hefty one at that, seems in order. I think that Totti will understand that.

[Dante]

Rumors coming out of Portugal are that Totti will receive a 3 match ban.

[afgrijselijkheid]

totti should be gone for the tournament - mihajlovic got 8 matches for spitting IIRC + that tackle should have been a red

[flanoverseas]

Just another reason why Totti is not a great player.

I remember watching the SK-ITA game; I was in Italy watching on RAI UNO. There was a bit of a scuffle between a RofK player and Totti and all the viewer saw was the end result which was Totti holding his face. That's all the announcers saw as well.

So the announcers were lamenting about what the Korean player could possibly have done and how the ref could have missed something so egregious while the technicians rewound the tape.

The replay starts and we see that the scuffle saw the Korean player push off of Totti, on his chest, it was almost a little tap. Totti's hands, a la Rivaldo, went straight for his face.

This guy deserves every bit of the suspension he gets, probably more than he gets.

[Dante]

totti should be gone for the tournament - mihajlovic got 8 matches for spitting IIRC + that tackle should have been a red
Banning him for 3 matches is good enough. I remember Bergkamp doing the same thing in a World Cup match and he got nothing.

Mihajlovic got 8 matches for more than just spitting, first he got the red card, then he argued about it and spat at people. He also kicked someone on his way off the field and he got into an argument with a ref. That's FAR more than what Totti did.

[kotzunder]

Fortunately Poulsen kept his cool, and just kept marking Totti quietly through the match.


wait, it's all true what you guys said about totti, but that's a bit one sided. i've just seen some clips from the match on a tv program, and poulsen tried his best to piss totti off for the whole match...you know he was man marking totti but he also kept on pushing and provocate him......thats not an exuse, but for sure poulsen wasn't that fair play model that you are making him appear

[catenaccio]

I am a fierce Italian supporter and watched Totti since he was a young player starting with Roma. His attitude has always been a problem. A player of his level should keep his cool no matter who is fouling, pushing or grabbing him. He's an ass to say the least. I think he should be banned from tournament and become a ball boy. I am kind of happy because now Pirlo will get his chance. He must be loving this. Forza Italia. :p

[bobarino]

This is very disappointing for me. I love Roma and my Azzurri, but there is no excuse for what Totti has done. I am speechless. I don't see how he avoids suspension. The Prince is now the Jester.

[catenaccio]

This is very disappointing for me. I love Roma and my Azzurri, but there is no excuse for what Totti has done. I am speechless. I don't see how he avoids suspension. The Prince is now the Jester.
this is a blessing in disguise. Remember Zidane was redcarded in '98. It lifted France to the title.

[Levante]

Of course he should be suspended. That last tackle was also criminal........ should have been a red card.